Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



RM. GILSON RAI LWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING ARPARA'DUS July 11, 192s. r 1,677,518

Filed Sept. 14, 1926 2 Sheet-Sheet INVENi'OPZ I July '17, 1928.

R. M; GILSON RAILWAY TRAF FIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1926 2 Sheets-Shegt TO A LTERMTING CURRENT RzsPouns T0 DIRzcT Cwzzurr Bur Ivor X INVENTOR: I

Patented July 17, 1928.

,usrrso STATES PATENT oF-F cE.-

ROBERT it. .GILSON, or PITTSBURGH, PEN-NsYLvaNIA, AssmNoR TO, THE UNION swrTcna SIGNAL COMPANY, or swrssvm, PENNSYLVANIA, A coRroRATIoN' OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AILWAY- RANrIc-oo T oL rNe PPARAT S.

Application filed sep ten ber 14, 1926. Serial No. 135,405.

My invention relates to railway traflic controlling apparatus, and particularly to apparatus of the type wherein train-carried governing mechanism is controlled by energy received from the trackway. i More particularly my present invention relates to the trackway portion of such apparatus.

I will describe three forms of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims;

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. .1 is' a diagrammatic vie'w showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are views showing modificaalso embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Fig; 1, the reference characters 1 and 1 designate the track rails of a railway along which traffic normally moves in the direction indicated by the arrow.

joints 2 into a plurality 1 oftrack sections, of which onlybnesection AB is shown in the drawing. I

Located adjacent the exit end of the section AB are two sources of current differing in frequency; As here shown, these former C the primaries of which are connected with alternating current generators which are not shown in thedrawing. The

frequencies of the currentsdelivered by these,

transformers may, for example, be 60 cycles persecond and 100 cycles per second, although I do not wish to limit myself to these particular frequencies.

The section AB is provided with a track-circuit which is normally supplied with 0 cycle current from the transformer C, the secondary circuit for this transformer including the primary19 of a track transformer T and the back contact 1111 of a coding device D hereinafter explained. The secondary2O of transformer T is constantly connected 'acros s'the rails of section A"B' through a limiting impedance 21." Located atthe'entrance end A' of the tions of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1 and These rails are divided by insulated sour-(es are a transformer C and a transcycle current.

frequency in its two windings 3 and 4 to effectively energize the relay, and as here shown, the relay is ofthe" centrifugal type comprising a rotor 5 operated bythelwind ings 3 and and a back contact 10 which is open'only when the centrifugal device 6. is rotating at or above a predetermined speed. Winding 4 is energized from the second'ar of a transformer F the primary of whic is supplied with 'cycle current from a suitable source, a resistance 34 being inter posed between the secondary of F and relay wlndmg 4. It will be seen,'there fore,

that under normal conditions, that is, when the track section"AB is unoccupied, 60 cycle current is supplied to both windings 3 and 4 of relay R and so this relay is effectively energized to hold its back contact 10 open.

The coding device D comprises a winding 22 provided with a circuit which passes from terminal X of a suitable source of'current,"j through backeontact 10 of relay 'R, then through winding 22'and'a back contact 13 of device D to terminal O-of the same source of current. It follows that when back contact 10 is closed, the device D willibe'lalternately energized and de-energized due to the fact thatits own back contact 13 is included in the circuit of'the operating winding 22, and so the contact not this device will alternately engage contact points 7,

11 and the primary-19 of the track ,transformer T. It follows that when a train occupies section AB, so that the back contact 10 of trackirela y R is closed, the-rails of this section-are alternately suppliedwith 6.0 cycle current and with 100 cycle current. The apparatus is intended for co-opera-j tion with train carried'governing 'mechag I nism which responds to the intermittent supply of 100 cycle current but not to the continuous supply ot such current or to 60 I have found that R may not become effectively energized to open its back -cont actsan'd"close its front the centrifugal relay transformer E plied to winding 3 if the supply of (it) cycle current to winding 4 is discoi'itinued during the intervals in which 100 cycle current is being supplied towinding 3, and I have ac cordingly provided means for accomplishing this result. Located adjacent the'point A is a distant relay H, which, together with track relay R controls a wayside signal Sthroughthe medium of circuits which are'well understood and which are,rtherefore, not shown in the present disclosure. Re-

lay H is i controlled jointly by relay R for track section AB and by .a similar track relay R for the section to the right of point B, the circuit for relay H being from the secondary of a transformer E through a resistance 35, front contact 7 of relay R wires 14: and 14, winding of relay H, front contact 99' of relay R wire 15, and front contact 8 of. relay R to the secondary of The primary of trans former E is supplied with current from a source not shown in the drawing. Connected across the terminalsof winding 4 of relay R is the primary 23 of a transformer G, and one terminal of the secondary 2a of this transformer is connected through wire 16 with wire 14: which is included in the circuit .for distant relay H. VV'hen relay R is open, theother terminal OfxilllB secondary 24: oftransforrner G is connected through back contact 9- 9"-with thewire 15, which is also included in the circuit for distant relay, It follows that when relay R is closed, the secondary 24; of transformer G is on open circuit, but thatjwhen relay R4 is open, the secondary 2 of, transformer G is connected across wires 14; and 15. When the coding device 'D is energized, wires 14 and 15 are connected by a low re: sistance path which includes wires 17, and 18 and frontcontact 12, of device D, so that if relayR is then open the secondary-2 f of transformer G is placed on short circuit and-so the supply of 60 cycle currentqfrom transformer F is shunted away from winding 4t of. relay R The-resistances 34: and prevent the secondaries of transformers F and E from being placed on short circuit when wires 14 and 15 are connected by contact 12.

'The operationofthe apparatus shown in Figlis as follows: Normally the coding device D is de-energized, so that60 cyclecurrent is'supplied to track transformer T, and

the secondary 24 of transformer G is on opeii circuit, with the result that 60 cycle current is being supplied to both windings 8 and 4 of relay l This relayiis thereforeeifectively' energized to open its back contact 10 and to close its front contacti9f-i9". When a train enters section A-B, it discontinues the supply of current to track winding 8 of relay R so that this relay opens and thereby sets the coding device D intooperation, whereupon the rails of section AB are alternately supplied with 60 cycle cur,- rentand cycle current. When the train passes out of section A 13, these two currentsiare alternately supplied to the track winding 3 of relay R andduring the intervals in which 100 cycle current is being supplied to this winding, the .60 cycle cur rent in windinga is discontinued because of the shunting effect of. contactf12 of the coding device D. llhe resulting intermite tent supply of 60 cyclecurrentto the windings 3 and i of relay R continues until the centrifugal device 6 isbrought up to a speed high enough to open back contact 10, whereupon the coding device D stops-operating and the continuous supply of 60 cycle, current to both of the windings of relay R is resumed. Ordinarily the coding device D will be controlled in part by traflic conditions in advance of section A-B, as well as by back contact 10 of relay Rfi but since this further control. forms no part of any 1nvention I have omitted it fromthe drawing in order to simplify the disclosure. 7

lleforringnow to Fig. 2, the .alfiparatus iere shown isf'the samelas that shown in Fig. 1 except for the control of the coding device D and except for the fact that means are pro v-idcd for preventing theintermittent supply of (S0 cycle current while the coding device Dis inoperation. if the intermittent supply of lOO cycle current fails. In Fig. V 2 the circuit for the distant nelayl-lis from the secondary of trans-former E through.

contact of relay R wire '14:, Winding of relay H, frontcontact 9 of relay R wires 15 and 15 and 'cOntactS of relay R .to the secondary of transformer E L 'Thecode ing device D is controlled by a front contact 27 0f a slow-rcleasing relay J, the circuit heing from' terminal X of a suitablejsource of current, through contact 27 of relay J, wind ing 22 ofco'ding device D and'back contact 13 of this coding device to terminal 0 of the same source of current. -Relay J lSC0l1- nected with the output terminals of a full-f wave rectifier K, which. rectifier is normally de energized. When track relay R5 is open; however, the rectifier K becomes energized from transformer the circuit beingfron' the secondary of transformer G, through wire 16, rectifier K, wire 23, back contact 12-'12 1of coding .dcvice D, wires 18 and 15, and the back point of contact!) of relay R? use to the secondary of --'transformer G; The primary of transformer G is, of course, energized from thesecondary of transformer F Each time that the front contacts of the coding device D become closed, wires 16 and 15 are connected together-through wire- 16, front contact 1212 and wire 18, so

that the secondary of transformer G is then placed on short circuit; during these intervals of short circuit, the rectifier K'and relay J are, of course, de-energized, but relay J is suliiciently slow-releasing to keep its front contact 27 closed during each of these intervals, so that the operation of the coding device D is not interfered with.

Under normal. conditions, that is, when section AB is unoccupied, the primary 19 of track transformer 'l is continuously supplied with cycle current, the circuit being from the lower terminal of the secondary of transformer C through wire 28, backcOntact 26 of relay J', Wire 29, back contact lll1 of the coding device D,.and the primary 19 of transformer 'l to the upper terminal of the secondary of transformer C. \Vheu. relay J becomesenergized due to a train entering section A-B, this circuit is opened, but the closing of front'contact 1l-ll of the coding device D causes 100 cycle current to be supplied to trans' former 'l through this front contact and through a reactance 24. Connected across the reactance 24' is a full-wave rectifierfM,

which'supplies uni-directionalcurrent to a slow-releasing relay L. Relay L, therefore, becomes energized the first time that the front contacts of the coding device D close,-

and it thereafter keeps its front contact 25 closed. as long as 100 cycle current is intermittently supplied to the ti'acktransformer, because of the slow-releasing characteristic of this relay. WVith front contact'25 of relay L closed, 60 cycle currentis suppliedv to the primary of track transformer 'T each time that the back contacts of the, coding device D become closed,'the"circuit being from the lower terminal of the secondary of transformer C through contact 25 of relay L, back contact 1ll1 of coding device D, and the primary 19 of tracktransforiner T to the upper terminal of the secondary of transformer C. V

The operation of the apparatus shown Fig. 2 will be apparent from the foregoing description and from the explanation given hereinbefore of the operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. The reason for preventing intermittent supply of 60 cycle current if the 100 cycle current impulses are not also being supplied, is that 60 cycle im'-' pulses of high magnitude in the track rails.

may cause improper operation of the engine equipu'icnt if the alternate impulses of 100 cycle current are absent. In the event that the supply of 100 cyclecurrent fails, it will" be obvious that relay L will remain de-energized, and since relay J is continuously closed while a train is in the section, there will be no 60,cycle current supplied to the tracktransformer T whenthe back contact 11-11 of the coding device D is closed.

In the event 'thatthis check on the supply oflOO cycle current is not required, the reactance 24,-rectifier M, relay. L, and back contact 26, maybe omitted,the lower terminal of the secondary o'f transformer C?" then being connected directly to contact 11 of the coding device C.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the apparatus. in

the form here shown involves a modification of the means for controlling the operation of the coding device D and also a modification of the means for picking up the track relay R when a train passes out of the sec-- tion AB. I 5 I The'circuit for the distant relay H is substantially the same as in Fig. 1, and will be The understood without tracing in detail. coding device D is controlled bya'relay J a in such manner that the device operates when the relay J isenergized, the circuit for the operation of the coding device being the same as in'Fig. 2. Relay J is connected across wires lat and 15, but this relay is designed to operate on direct current and not on alternating current, so that relay J. is not effectively energized by current from transformer E through contacts 7 and 8 of track relay B. When track relayR is de energized, however, relay J. is energized from a transformer N, through a full-wave rectifier P, the output circuit-for the rect'i fier being'from the upper terminal of the rectifier through back contact 9 -9 of relay R Wire.15, winding of relayJ and wiresl if and 30 to the lower terminal of therectifier.

When the back contacts of the coding de vice D are closed, 60 cycle current is supplied'from transformer C to the primary 19 of track transformer T and also to the primary 3lof autrans'former Q; When the front contacts of the coding device D are closed, 10 cycle current ,is supplied from transformer C to the primary 19 of track transformerT'and also to the primary'31' of transformer Q. The secondary '32 of transformer Q is connected with winding 4 of R opens, the supply of unidirectional current from rectifier P torclay J will 'he'dis continued, so that the operation of the codwires 14: and 15 I am enabled to accomplish the same result with one less line wire than is required in the apparatus shown in the aforesaid application by Charles It. Beall.

Although I have herein shown and described. only three forms of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. 7

Having thus described my invent-ion, what I claim is: I V I v V ,1. In combination, a section of 'ailway track, a track relay having two windings one of which is energized from the track rails of the section, two sources of alternating current differing in frequency, means for constantly supplying current to the rails of said section from the first of said sources when said relay is closed and for supplying current alternately from the first and second sources tothe rails when the relay is open, means for normally supplying the second winding of said relay with current of the freqiiiency of said first source, and means for discontinuing the supply of current to said second winding when current is being supplied to the rails from said second source.

2. In combination, a section of railway track, a track relay having two windings one of which is energized from the track rails of the section, two sources of alternating current differing in frequency, means for con stantly supplying current to the rails of said section from the first of said sources when said relay is closed and for supplying cur-.

rent alternately from the first and second sources tothe rails when the relay is open, means for normally supplying the second winding of said-relay with current of the frequency of said first source, and means for shunting current away from said second winding while current is being supplied to the rails from said second source.

3. In combination, a section of railway track, a track relay having two windings one of which is energized from the track rails of the section, two sources of alternating current differing in frequency, a coding device controlled by said relay in such manner that the deviceis at rest when the re lay is closed and in operation when the relay is open, means controlled by said coding device when at rest for constantly supplying current from said first source to the track rails and when in operation for supplying current alternately from the first and second sources to the rails, means for normally supplying the second winding of said relay with current of the frequency of said first source,

and means controlled by said coding device sources to the rails when the-relay is open,

means I for normally supplying the second winding of said relay with current of the frequency of said first source, and means for discontinuing the supply of current to said second winding when current is being supplied to the rails from said second source,

5. In combination, a section of railway track, a track relay having two windings one of which is energized from the t 'ack rails of said section said relay also comprising a centrifugal device actuated by currents in said wiiidings, twosources of alternating current differing in frequency, a coding de vice controlled by said relay insuch manner that the device is at rest when the relay closed and in operation when the relay is open, means controlled by said coding device when at rest for constantly supplying current from said first source to the track rails and when in operation for supplying current alternately from thefirstand second sources to the rails, means for normally supplying the second winding of said relay with current of the frequency of said first source, and means controlled by said coding device for shunting current away from said second winding whilecurrent from said second source is being supplied to the rails. i

' 6. In combination, a section of railway track, a track relay having. two windings one of/which is energized from the track rails of the section, two sources of alter nating current differing in frequency, acoding device controlled by said relay insuch manner that the device is at rest when the relay is closed and in operation when the relay is open, means controlled by said coding device whe'nat rest for constantlysupplying current from said firstisource to the track rails and when in operation for supplying current alternately from the first and second sources to the rails, means for nor-v mally supplying the" second winding of said relay with current of the frequency of said Ill) first source, a distant relay for said section having a circuit controlled by -t 'aific conditions in advance of the section, means operating when said track relay is open to connect said second winding with the circuit for said distant relay, and means controlled by said coding device for closing a low resistance shunt across said distant relay circuit while current from said second source is being supplied to the rails of said section.

7. In combination, a section of railway track, a track relay having two windings the first of which is energized from the track rails of said section, anormally de-energized slow-releasing relay, a transforn'ier having its primary connected with a source of cur rent of one frequency and its secondar connected with the second winding of said track relay, a second transformer having its primary connected with the secondary of said first transformer, means operating when said track relay is de-energized to supply said slow-releasing relay wit-h current from the secondary of said second transformer, a cod ing device periodically energized while said slow-releasing relay is closed, means for placing the secondary of said second transformer on short circuit each time said cod ing device becomes energized, and means acting while said coding device is in operation to alternately supply current of said one frequency and current of a different frequency to-the rails of said section.

8. In combination, a section of railway track, means for alternatelyfsupplying currents of two difi'erent frequencies to the rails of said section, and means for preventing the supply of current of one said frequency to the rails of said section if the supply of current of the other frequency to the rails of said section fails.

9. In combination, a section of railway track, a track relay having two windings the first of which is energized from the track rails of said section, a coding device arranged when in operation to alternately supply currents of two different frequencies to the rails of said section and to the second winding of said t ack relay, a distant relay for said section, a. line circuit for said distant relay extending through said section,

and means including a portion of said line said line circuit for controlling said coding device by said track relay.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

ROBERT M. GI'LSON. 

